Brian does great work and analysis on this site. In this case, however, the “back-of-the-envelope calculations” from back in January are in the process of being replaced by real-world events. Two or three months ago, RSU 24, based in Ellsworth, cut its insurance bill in half, saving over $80,000 just on that. Since then, the savings have grown to over $400,000, according to Bill Webster, the superintendent. RSU 10 in the western mountains has already saved more than $600,000 – that’s annual savings – and Superintendent Tom Ward is confident more savings will be found in years 2 and 3.

RSU 1, which was formed a year before everyone else, is saving more than $1 million annually. Not every district will have the same results, and not all in year one. But it’s clear that in the areas where the focus was on creating equity in educational opportunities for students, the savings are following. We are only three months into the new districts and already nearly every RSU that has formed is telling us they are on the path to savings, with more expected.

The Governor and Legislature booked $36 million in school reorganization "savings" in 2007 because - in theory - consolidating central office staff would mean lower administrative costs. Indeed, the DoE's own website calls the whole project, "School Administrative Reorganization". Savings on insurance, nice though they may be, hardly qualify as being part of what was expected or anticipated. I hope the DoE will provide additional details on what the savings in the districts Mr. Connerty-Marin cites are so we can gauge them against what was promised.